Green Manure for Autumn Sowing Lawn

Green Manure for Autumn Sowing Lawn.

I have an area that was an old, derelict, Tennis court which I ripped up last Autumn. The clay underneath stank (hadn't seen daylight / air for years I expect ...)

The Farmer has pulled a deep Chisel Plough through it, and I have some (not very luxurious) topsoil to spread on top. I was planning not to sow the grass seed until the Autumn.

Any mileage in growing a Green Manure on it during the Summer? Something that will benefit the grass later on, and/or maybe improve the soil structure, but won't be a menace returning to compete with the grass later on.

 

Mustard would look pretty too ... or must I not let it flower / seed?

Hmmm ... Moles Seed says "turn in before flowering" so that might need some judicious planning on Sowing date and the Rotavator Hire!

I reckon that would need 3kg of seed, which would be about £20 ... sounds like a good plan to me.

Growing period 1 - 2 months. Working back: sow the lawn, say, 1st -14th September, allow a week for soil preparation, so rotavate in on 25th August, thus sow 6 weeks earlier on 14th July? That gives me a couple of weeks leeway if the Mustard is slow getting established.

I'll put the date in my diary